escrapmoney's blog

Sometimes one of the most difficult things about being married is not the marriage itself, but the in-laws that come with it. If you have been having a hard time dealing with a critical or overbearing mother-in-law here are some things you can try that might help.

A wedding is an emotional time for everyone involved. If you are a member of the wedding party and expected to make a formal toast as a part of your duties, it can be stressful as well. Being prepared in advance is the best way to deal with that stress. Whether you are the bride, the groom, the best man or the maid/ matron of honor, there is no speech you can make that will be more appreciated than a heartfelt toast to the mother of the bride.

Your wedding dress is elegant, the ceremony flowers are brilliant and your groom-to-be is dashingly handsome. There's just one final issue facing you on your wedding day: your mother-in-law. Your relationship with your groom's mother may be strained, or perhaps she enjoys your company and the two of you have a special bond. Remember that regardless of your relationship, weddings are often stressful events and may bring out the worst in people. Be patient with your mother-in-law and help her enjoy your wedding day as much as you will.

A possessive mother can make life difficult for her children and her children's friends and spouses. Also called "overbearing" or " controlling," possessive mothers are still learning how to let go and trust their children's decision-making abilities. They are also learning how to accept their children's choices, which is difficult if those choices are different than the ones the mothers would make. Dealing with a possessive mother requires understanding where your mother or mother-in-law is coming from and learning how to be loving, yet firm in your own decisions.

Do you have the mother in law that all mother in law jokes were created from? Do you involuntary cringe at the sound of her voice or the thought of her presence? Do you tell mother in law stories to your friends so that you do not have to pay a therapist? Do you wholeheartedly believe that your mother in law is truly evil? Here are a few relatively easy ways to rid yourself of a pesky mother in law.

Among the many unfamiliar things you learn to do as a new mom is bathing your newborn baby. After your baby is born, you'll need to give her sponge baths for the first few weeks until her umbilical stump falls off. Newborn babies don't need to be bathed every day. Giving your baby a sponge bath once or twice a week during her first month is more than enough. Sponge bathing a newborn can be an enjoyable experience for both you and your baby, given the proper preparation.

Many Christian denominations are moving away from the traditional practice of christening infants by sprinkling them with water. Instead, churches are opting for baby dedication services, where parents bring their child before the congregation to dedicate her life to God and make a promise to help her develop a faithful Christian lifestyle. Baby dedications are joyous occasions for everyone involved and usually involve some type of celebration upon completion of the ceremony. If you want to commit your child to God and start her down a path of faith, start by planning a baby dedication ceremony

A baby's first stocking is a special keepsake that you and your baby will treasure for many years to come. You can purchase a stocking, but making your own will make it all the more special to you both. With all the different designs and styles available, there are literally dozens of ways to make a stocking. However, the instructions for a basic stocking with a traditional design serve as the foundation for all the others. You can innovate on the design if you want to make a new stocking as your child grows.

Reading picture books to your baby can help introduce concepts like colors, numbers, letters and shapes, and encourage exploration of the world around her. However, babies can be hard on books. They like to chew on them, rip the pages and throw them on the ground, which can make them look beat up and worn very quickly. By making your own picture book out of fabric, you can give your baby a book to enjoy for many years -- even if he also uses it as a chew toy.

Your baby's first year is filled with precious firsts that you'll never want to forget. Unfortunately, you'll probably spend so much of that year sleep deprived, busy and distracted, your memory may not be as sharp as you'd hoped. You may think you'll remember every special, heartwarming moment, but you'll be surprised how quickly little details (like your name) begin to slip after the little angel keeps you up all night. Document your baby's first year with a baby book, and you won't have anything to lose. In fact, you have more to lose if you don't.